To the Editor: I read with interest the article by Hender and colleagues recently published in the Journal.1 I agree with the authors' conclusion that there is presently insufficient evidence to suggest the widespread use of endoluminal treatment for carotid artery disease. However, there are a number of problems with the authors' interpretation of our recent article comparing the outcome of surgical and endoluminal treatment of symptomatic carotid stenosis.2
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- 1. Hender KM, Anderson JN, Chong W. Carotid stenting or endarterectomy for stroke prevention? Med J Aust 2001; 175: 430-431.
- 2. Golledge J, Mitchell A, Greenhalgh RM, Davies AH. Systemic comparison of the early outcome of angioplasty and endarterectomy for symptomatic carotid artery disease. Stroke 2000; 31: 1439-1443.
- 3. Endovascular versus surgical treatment in patients with carotid stenosis in the Carotid and Vertebral Artery Transluminal Angioplasty Study (CAVATAS): a randomised trial. Lancet 2001; 357: 1729-1937.
- 4. North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial Collaborators. Beneficial effect of carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients with high-grade carotid stenosis. N Engl J Med 1991; 325: 445-453.